A savings incentive match plan for employees (SIMPLE IRA) allows employees and employers to contribute to an IRA-based plan that is set up for an employees’ benefit. With a SIMPLE IRA, employees can defer a portion of their pay, known as salary deferral or salary reduction contributions. The employer makes either a matching or non-elective […]
If you are an entrepreneur, then you are always going to be given advice on how to run and ramp up your business—whether it’s from friends, family, or your mentors. While a lot of new entrepreneurs will welcome the advice, it’s critical that you are careful about what advice you absorb and what you choose […]
Andrew Gruel, chef and owner of the Slapfish restaurant chain, responds to about 50 online reviews a day, positive or negative. Credit: Emily Berl for The New York Times For the California restaurateur Andrew Gruel, poor online reviews demand rapid responses. One of his new Slapfish restaurants, serving sustainable seafood, was hit this year with […]
Every entrepreneur at some point hires an SEO, PPC (pay-per-click) or SMM (social media marketing) expert — which generally means an agency or freelancer. But money is tight, so how do startups evaluate whether the candidates they’re considering offer reasonable rates? Is gut instinct enough? Your own answer to the question is likely, “No, gut instinct is not enough, but what […]
Tucked inside the mammoth tax and spending bill passed by Congress this month is a much-anticipated provision that will lock in a large tax break for small-business capital investments that has been temporary until now. The break is intended to make it more affordable for small companies to buy up to $500,000 a year worth […]
Most of us work long hours: 40, 50 or even 60 hours each week. But chances are, given distractions like online entertainment, office snacking habits and ill-designed time management, we’re only churning out high-quality work a portion of each day. Here are five practical steps to incorporate into any morning routine to optimize your time […]
Most people are at least a little bit shy. John Stoker, president of DialogueWORKS and author of “Overcoming Fake Talk,” regularly gives a presentation called “Do you ruin everything by being you?” in which he shares a revealing statistic: About 70% of people are not comfortable speaking up. “You know what this means?” he asks his audience. “About 70% […]
If you want to be successful and grow your wealth, start by learning from those who have already done it. “Successful people look at other successful people as a means to motivate themselves,” writes T. Harv Eker in “Secrets of the Millionaire Mind.” “They see other successful people as models to learn from. They say […]
“That’s just a feature.” It’s the ultimate dismissal — an indictment that the idea is too lightweight to stand on its own and will ultimately be subsumed into a broader product. Entrepreneurs scarred by such feedback may start second-guessing themselves, wondering if their innovation is a great product or a measly feature. But dwelling on […]
There’s never been a better time to strike out on your own. Have you been dreaming about starting your own business? This coming year is the time to stop dreaming and start doing. That advice comes from the personal finance site GOBankingRates. The site’s editors asked best-selling author and career coach Josh Felber for his […]